Artificial fuel.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. HERBEIN, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

ARTIFICIAL FUEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 30, 1907.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

Serial No. 404,634.

'sorbent therefor, and a binding agent whose viscous quality affords an exceedingly eficient cohesion of the constituents of the fuel and renders the mass into condition to assume the compressed form in which it is best fitted for consumption.

The fuel comprises as its essential ingredients, a hydrocarbon, such as petroleum oil; a combustible absorbent; and a binder therefor consisting of saccharate of lime.

I desirably emplo eat as an absorbent and combustible ve 'c e for the fluid constituents of. the fuel. Its combustible quality is well known, and as an absorbent for the oil, in the proportions hereinafter stated, its efficiency is sufficiently demonstrated. Besides these important functions the addition of peat to the oil involves certain re actionary effects shown b the effervescence following their union an by the alteration in the character of the petroleum caused by the. yroli neous acid contained in the eat an whic possesses an affinity for the atty particles of the oil. The said reaction destroys a ortion of the disintegratin character of t e oil and renders it more subservient to the bindin agent and allows of a larger proportion 0 such high grade combustible be1n used. However, other substances of an a sorbent quality and having a combustible value may be used in the place of peat, such as garbage, saw-dust, or paper-waste, and may be found to be more available under certain conditions. Saccharate of lime, as used in this composition, has an extremely tenacious character which renders it of great value as a binder. By the employment of such binding agent opportunity is provided to economically utilize carbonaceous and ligneous matters of various kinds such as the disintegrated wastes of coal mines, which have heretofore been difficult to combine in practicable fuel. The extreme cohesive nature of the binding agent renders possible the inclusion of a large percentage of such foreign combustible substances.

With the specific ingredients mentioned the following proportions would yield a very satisfactory fuel, would when compressed retain its molded condition, withstand the effects of handling and the disintegration due from combustion: petroleum, twenty per cent., peat, seventy-eight per cent., and saccharate of lime, two per cent. The petroleum is first heated and the peat, or other absorbent, is added and thoroughly mixed until an intimate combination results; the saccharate of lime in a dry and powdered form is then added and thoroughly lncorporated in the mixture, water being used to afford a consistency to the mass. The mixture While still heated is com ressed into the form of briquets and by alowing the heat and pressure to continue desirably for a period of twenty minutes the combustive quality of the fuel is improved and the briquet is rendered impenetrable to Water and practically unbreakable.

. Having described my invention, what I claim, is-

1. An artificial fuel formed from petroleum, peat, and saccharate of lime in dry powder form.

2. An artificial fuel formed from petroleum twenty per cent., peat seventy-eight per cent., and powdered saccharate of lime two per cent.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE w. HERBEIN.

Witnesses:

HoRAoE BARNES, ROBERT B. GILLIEs. 

